Federated Farmers has One Plan under the microscope
Released 24 Aug 2010
After six years, thousands of pages of evidence and nine million dollars plus, Federated Farmers has welcomed yesterday's independent hearing panel's report on Horizons Regional Council's One Plan.
"On the face of it, there have been some substantial changes and it looks like there has been a genuine move to redress the many concerns Federated Farmers felt," says Gordon McKellar, Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei President.
"I think it's an understatement to say this plan is vastly complex.
"I wish to publicly thank the invaluable role played by the panel of Independent Commissioners, chairperson Joan Allin and Rob van Voorthuysen who were supported by councillors Meads and White.
"They had a huge task to challenge the very costly ‘avalanche of evidence' as it was described, that was presented by Horizons Regional Council. They have brought common sense with what is likely to be, workable rules on environmental improvement.
"I'd also like to thank the members of Federated Farmers and our professional policy staff who, over a number of years, have put countless hours of effort into One Plan.
"It will be weeks rather than days before we can determine if an appeal is warranted and on what basis. That said, we thank Horizons for granting 60 days to appeal as opposed to the mandatory 30 days," Mr McKellar added.
Federated Farmers Tararua President, John Barrow, also acknowledged it will take some time to digest the ramifications but sees some positives.
"What Federated Farmers wants to achieve is outcomes based policy, instead of instituting process for the sake of instituting process. It's about practical stuff that achieves an environmental outcome because we see this approach working in other regions," says Mr Barrow.
"For instance, Federated Farmers welcomes the prospect of ‘field consents' that will save on paperwork by putting both parties on the spot where they can see and talk about an issue, with a yes or no right there and then.
"This seems to be a practical and cost effective solution. It highlights that information, education and communication are absolutely critical to a cooperative outcome.
"The use of non-regulatory solutions, such as Fonterra's clean-streams Accord and the work it is now doing with its suppliers on effluent systems, has been belatedly recognised by the Council. We genuinely welcome these moves along with greater research.
"Yet in that vein, I was personally disappointed to read in Horizons media release that ‘intensive' farming, especially dairy, was blamed by the Chief Executive for nitrogen and phosphorus impacts on water.
"It was that type of assumed causational link that led the Council into an expensive policy cul-de-sac. Farmers willingly acknowledge there is an effect on water, but for dairy farming, that's nitrogen and not phosphorus," Mr Barrow concluded.
For more information please contact:
Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers Dairy executive, 06 328 9677, 027 230 7363
John Barrow, Tararua provincial president, 06 374 5153, 021 0268 0683
Gordon McKellar, Manawatu/Rangitikei provincial president, 06 323 4792
Lyn Neeson, Ruapehu provincial president, 07 893 8547, 027 353 7907
Brian Doughty, Wanganui provincial president, 06 342 1846, 0274 857 903
Robert Ervine, Manawatu/Rangitikei dairy chairperson, 06 329 6989, 0274 385 413
Gray Beagley, Tararua dairy chairperson, 06 376 4356
